Hub for bicycle wheels

Abstract

A hub shell comprises a hollow cylindrical body with a spoke flange and a hub head at each end. The spoke flange has a number of bores arranged radially around the flange perimeter, with the spacing and angle of the bores being dependent upon whether the hub is to be for a front wheel or a rear wheel. In every case, the bore is formed at an angle directed inward from the ends of the hub. The perimeter face of the hub flange is formed at the same angle as the bore so that the spoke exits the flange generally perpendicular to the perimeter face of the flange but angled with respect to the hub axis. Each bore has an inner thread which matches the thread pattern of the threaded end of a standard bicycle spoke. Both ends of the spoke will have the same outside thread so that either end may be inserted into the hub or into the spoke nipple at the wheel rim.

I claim: 
     
       1. A hub shell for a spoked bicycle wheel comprising: a hollow, generally-cylindrical body having a spoke flange with a perimeter face and a hub head at each end thereof and an axis running through a center of said body, said perimeter face being angled inwardly with respect to said axis wherein said spoke flange on one end of said body is wider than said spoke flange on the other end of said body;   an annular recess at each said end for retaining a bearing means; and   a plurality of bores distributed radially around said spoke flange directed inwardly at an angle from said spoke flange, said bores having internal threads for mating win an external thread of a spoke wherein said spoke is threaded at both ends, a first end for attachment to said hub head and a second end for attachment at a rim of said bicycle wheel, wherein said plurality of bores on the one end of said spoke flange is positioned around said perimeter face in a staggered arrangement and said angle is 3.5°±1°.   
     
     
       2. A hub shell as in claim 1 wherein said internal threads have a same thread size as an attachment means at said rim. 
     
     
       3. A hub shell as in claim 2 wherein said same thread size is 56 threads per inch. 
     
     
       4. A hub shell as in claim 1 wherein said non-zero angle of said plurality of bores on said other end is 11°±1°. 
     
     
       5. A hub shell as in claim 1 wherein said angle of said plurality of bores is 6.75°±1°. 
     
     
       6. A hub shell as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of bores on said one end is further disposed at a radial angle of 48.75°±1° from a line running diametrically across said spoke flange. 
     
     
       7. A rear hub shell for a bicycle wheel with a plurality of spokes which are threaded at both ends, a first spoke end for attachment to said hub head and a second spoke end for attachment at a rim of said bicycle wheel, said rear hub comprising: a hollow, generally-cylindrical body having a first spoke flange with a first perimeter face and a first hub head at a first end thereof and a second spoke flange with a second perimeter face and a second hub head at a second end thereof and an axis running through a center of said body, said first perimeter face being wider than said second perimeter face and each of said first and second perimeter faces being angled inwardly with respect to said axis;   an annular recess at each of said first end and said second end for retaining a bearing means;   a first plurality of bores distributed radially around said first spoke flange directed inwardly at a first angle from said first spoke flange, said first plurality of bores having internal threads for mating with an external thread of said first spoke end, said first plurality of bores being disposed in a staggered arrangement; and   a second plurality of bores distributed radially around said second spoke flange directed inwardly at a second angle from said second spoke flange, said second plurality of bores having internal threads for mating with an external thread of said first spoke end.   
     
     
       8. A rear hub shell as in claim 7 wherein said first angle of said first plurality of bores is 3.5°±1°. 
     
     
       9. A rear hub shell as in claim 7 wherein said second angle of said second plurality of bores is 11°±1°. 
     
     
       10. A rear hub shell as in claim 7 wherein a thread size at both ends of said spoke is 56 threads per inch. 
     
     
       11. A rear hub shell as in claim 7 wherein each of said first plurality of bores is further disposed at a radial angle of 48.75°±1° from a line running diametrically across said first spoke flange.